Energy Saving Lightbulbs?

Question

The new energy saving bulbs every one is raving about. They have a spiral pattern. Are they really just flourescent bulbs in disguise?

Answer 1

Energy saving bulbs have mercury inside them so they can cause environmental problem if not disposed of properly , whereas in few years they will be replaced by LED bulbs which will be long lasting than current one & environment friendly too . they are available but are expensive as have not entered markets on a large scale

Answer 2

They are flourscent light bulbs but they last a LOT longer.

Answer 3

No they really work. They will pay themselfes off for the extra money you spent on it. Try it, it realy works.

Answer 4

no they use a special filement that burns longer and use less energy to light

Answer 5

they look like it dont they but they save energy because they are filled with a liquid called Mercury

Answer 6

Pretty much. They use less energy and are fire safe in lamps. Yes, they are fluorescent. But they last longer about 7 years is the average.

Answer 7

Heck yeah! Good observation. They (the "new" bulbs) work a little differently and may (I don't know) use a different gaseous medium, but generally they fit the criteria of your question, i.e.: Are they flourescent bulbs? The hallmark of this kind of bulb is how it works. Gas inside a tube is heated to a certain temperature whence it begins to flouresce, or glow. Usually, an invisible beam of high speed electrons, travelling from one end of the tube to the other makes up the heating element. With these new bulbs, the method of heating the gas, and what the gas is (helium, neon, argon, mercury ???), are all unknown to me but not the point. The point is that for all intents and purposes, yes these are what you're thinking of when you say flourescent bulbs. The new bulbs even share the same "problems" as normal flourescent bulbs (the straight kind). Specifically, they flicker 60 times/second--making some people nauseus, by the way; also making some epileptics have special kinds of seizures; and some people don't notice the flicker at all. Oh yeah, almost forgot: They share another negative trait with classic flourescent bulbs, the light they emit is (psychologically, physiologically perhaps) "cold," rather than that emitted by an incandescent or standard, plain-old regular light bulbs that emit warm light, comforting and rarely glaring and garrish like flourescents. Even further (I'm getting these ideas as I type) the new bulbs also take a relatively long time to fully turn on, just like flourescent bulbs! That's 3 major characteristics in common with the "regular," tubular flourescents. To summarize: (1) they (the new bulbs) flicker at 60 cycles/second; (2) emit a "cold" (uncomfortable) light and (3) they take a long, step-wise time of it, so to speak, as they turn "fully" on.

So Yes! They are really flourescent bulbs in curly tubes. The premise for using them is stupid--to supposedly save the environment. This itself is fantastic were it true, but it is not. We'll help clean up our planet and head off global warming-- trust me on this one--if we do, by reducing our "carbon footprint," to which this bulb thing has nothing to do, nothing to say, no effect (or one too small to matter).

Answer 8

why would they be

Answer 9

yes but  the only reason is tey use less electricity and they use less plastic

Answer 10

whell not exactly... they have a hypo - energy saving gas fume that practiclly eliminates all of the electricity that it takes to just instantly turn it on... so they really are electricity savers!!!

go to science.com or google them!!

Answer 11

If every household in the united states had just one energy saving buld it would shut down one power plant!!. Imagine how many power plants would shut down if everyone had several in their home!.

Answer 12

yes they are

Answer 13

They are just bulbs that are more efficient because they last about 5 years.

Answer 14

yes, but they do save energy

Answer 15

Here's a good article about the new cfls:

http://www.greenhomehints.com/2008/06/03...

Answer 16

They are fluorescent lightbulbs.

Answer 17

They are called CFLs or compact florescent lightbulbs, and yes they are different from the old florescent lights in that they use less power and don't flicker like the old bubs.  There big advantage is they they can easily replace all of the incandescent lightbulb around the house.  By switching over I have cut my electric bill in half.

Of course, they still cannot be thrown out in the trash, because they still contain mercury which must be recycled.

Answer 18

They arn't all spiral, but yea, they are fluro lights.  But the technology has moved on since the old tubes we think of.  They use new gases that give our a more natural light, more like an old fashioned incandescant bulb, or more like natural light.  It is cool how you can now pick and choose the light spectrum you prefer.  It may be called "Soft White" or somethng.

They use a fraction of the energy and last waaaaay longer.

The next technology about to hit the shelves which is even more exciting is the new super bright LEDs that output the same light as a standard 60 watt bulb.  Now they can be used around the house and virtually NEVER break and give off no heat at all.  Nor use any real power.

Answer 19

Let me start off by saying we (my family and I) live 100% off of the grid and are completely self-sufficient with a 0% Carbon footprint. I believe this is the first step anyone can make “help the environment”. Once you convert your own life style to a greener more eco friendly route, you can start helping others.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs, right now, are more " eco-wise" then anything else most consumers can get a hold of (ie. incandescent) and currently save over 2000 times their own weight in greenhouse gases.

But since my house is completely on solar / wind and we REALLY need to watch usage, every light is fitted with s***w type (typical 110v lamp socket style) LED bulbs. They emit the same luminosity (typically 45) but at only 1watt rather then a 45w compact or 10w CFL. However they usually cost twice as much as CFLs which is twice as much (or more) as compacts. Still LEDs would be the way to go by far.

As for the second part of your question...

Mercury IS the lesser of the evils, without getting toooo elaborate discussing specifics (ie. which burns ozone faster, other layer's besides ozone, disposing locations, methods, wind conditions, etc), one needs less mercury gas then most others, to obtain the same luminosity in a vacuum because of mercury's longer agitated spectral wavelength. Mercury's wavelength is more blue which is a longer more "luminous" or brighter light to say sodium, which is a more light orange or shorter less bright (red being the shortest) wavelength. so you'd need more sodium or other, in the tube or more electricity to the tube, to create the same luminosity as mercury.

so mercury wins out only because the sheer volume needed is less then the others.

Hope this helped, feel free to contact me personally if you have any questions if you’d like assistance in making your first self sufficient steps, I’m willing to walk you step by step threw the process. I’ve written several how-to DIY guides available at  www agua-luna com on the subject. I also offer online and on-site workshops, seminars and internships to help others help the environment.

Dan Martin

Alterative Energy / Sustainable Consultant, Living 100% on Alternative & Author of How One Simple Yet Incredibly Powerful Resource Is Transforming The Lives of Regular People From All Over The World... Instantly Elevating Their Income & Lowering Their Debt, While Saving The Environment by Using FREE ENERGY... All With Just One Click of A Mouse...For more info Visit:  

www AGUA-LUNA com

Stop Global Warming!!!

Answer 20

thats what they're called :) or if your talking about the solar powered ones, nope. hope i helped! :)